My Tiny Bathroom Didn’t Have Any Counter Space Until I Found This Gem

As someone who lives in a roughly 400-square-foot studio apartment in New York City, I consider myself lucky. Sure, when friends come over they sit on the floor, and every time I open a cabinet at least three things threaten to fall on my head. But I love living in New York City (plus, my apartment has an in-unit washer-dryer). So who cares if I have almost no storage?

Okay, I care a little. Living in such a small space means every square inch has to multitask. And one of my biggest daily struggles has always been getting ready to go out. There’s no room for a vanity, so my makeup bag has been living on the floor next to my couch, near my full-length mirror. Meanwhile, my hair straightener sits across the apartment on a small side table by the front door. 

Running back and forth around my apartment each time I had to get ready for an event was just not cutting it any longer. So when I saw this Apartment Therapy article about using a dish-drying rack to instantly create more counter space, I knew I had to try it.

A dish-drying rack is designed to sit securely across a kitchen sink. But that same design makes it surprisingly perfect for a tiny bathroom. First, it instantly doubles your counter space. When rolled out over the sink, it creates a sturdy, elevated surface. Instead of balancing products on the edge of the basin (or, worse, the toilet lid) you have a designated area to spread out your makeup bag without fear of items tumbling into the sink or onto the floor.

Second, it safely holds hot hair tools. The dish rack I purchased is made of stainless steel rods with heat-resistant silicone edges, which means they can function like a trivet. Flat irons and blow-dryers can rest on top of the rack, and you don’t have to worry about damaging your vanity (or setting them on a damp surface). It’s also incredibly small-space-friendly. When you’re done, you simply roll it up and stash it in a drawer, basket, or slim gap between fixtures. And thanks to the silicone grips on the ends, it stays firmly in place.

Adding in the dish rack completely transformed the way I get ready. When not in-use, the rack easily slides between my tub and sink and stays fully hidden. All I need to do is place it over the sink, reach for my makeup kit (that has now found its new home in the bathroom, finally!), and get to work. The best part is that the prongs of the rack are close together enough that my makeup items never fall through the cracks. And I can even safely lay my hair straightener on top of it as I use it, as the metal won’t get harmed by the heat of the straightener. 

Overall this hack has streamlined my ability to get ready, and even freed up some unexpected storage space for the rest of my apartment. Now my makeup bag doesn’t have to live as an eyesore at the bottom of my couch and can actually have a rightful place on the bathroom shelf. Who knew? This must be adulting.